Shoya Tomizawa: GP Racer Biography

By
UMC Staff
-

MotoGP Profile

On Sept. 5, the motorcycle racing industry expressed their great sadness at the passing away of Shoya Tomizawa following a serious accident San Marino Grand Prix.

Tomizawa crashed on the 12th lap of the 2010 Misano Moto2 race. The Japanese motorcycle rider was immediately treated at trackside, then at the circuit medical centre and then at Riccione hospital.

Numerous attempts were made to resuscitate him but at 14.20 hours he succumbed to cranial, thoracic and abdominal trauma. He will be deeply missed and remembered.

Shoya Tomizawa started racing pocket-bikes at the age of just three, and at 15 the Chiba-born rider entered the Japanese Championship.

Nineteen-year-old Tomizawa was a very popular rider in the MotoGP paddock, known for his sunny smile and determination on the racetrack. He made his Grand Prix debut at Motegi in the 125 GP class in 2006.

After coming second in the overall classification and winning the rookie of the year in the 125cc class in 2006, Tomizawa competed in both the 125cc and 250cc categories the following year.

In 2008 he finished 14th in the 250cc Japanese GP, catching the interest

of the CIP MOTO team, who offered him a full-time ride in the 2009

quarter-liter World Championship.

He took the runner-up spot in the 250 All-Japan Motorcycle GP Championship in the that same year. He then became a full-time GP rider last season, taking 17th place in the 250cc World Championship.

Tomizawa’s debut season saw him finish in the points in nine out of the 15 races he competed in, with tenth-placed finishes at Motegi and Valencia his best results of the campaign. In 2010 he moved into the new Moto2 series.

In 2010 Tomizawa continues with the same team – Technomag-CIP – as he makes the move to the new Moto2 category, riding a Suter chassis alongside teammate Dominique Aegerter and made history by winning the opening round.

Date of birth December 10th, 1990 – Birthplace Chiba, Japan – First race Pocketbike Racing, North Chiba – Grand Prix debut 2006 – 125cc Japanese Grand Prix,Suzuka

  • 1993 Pocketbike Racing

  • 1994 Pocketbike Racing

  • 1995 Pocketbike Racing

  • 1996 Pocketbike Racing

  • 1997 North Chiba Pocketbike Champion

  • 1998 North Chiba Pocketbike Champion

  • 1999 Haruna Pocketbike Champion

  • 2000 Haruna Pocketbike Champion

  • 2001 Iwai Minibike Champion, Honda

  • 2002 Iwai Minibike Champion, Honda

  • 2003 East Japan Minibike Champion, Honda

  • 2004 East Japan Minibike Champion, Honda

  • 2005 2nd 125 Tsukuba/Motegi/Sugo Championships, Honda

  • 2006 2nd 125 All-Japan Championship, Honda

  • 2007 3rd 125 All-Japan Championship, Honda

  • 2008 2nd 250 All-Japan Championship, Honda

  • 2009 17th 250 World Championship, Honda

  • 2010 Wins Opening Moto2 Race

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